Switch-point protector



March 6, 1928.

J. C. PATTERSON ET AL.

SWITCH PGINT PROTECTOR Filed May 23, 1925 Patented Mar. 6,1928.

UNITED STATES JAMES CLARENCE PATTERSON, yOF `EAST-OR/AINTGE,LND JAMES HENRY LYNCH, JRi, OF

PATENT oFF-ics. g.

l JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY. y i

SWITCH-POIN T PROTECTOR.

Application inea May 2a, 1925. serial No. 32,238.

@ur invention relates to improvements in switch point protectors for railway switches ture and to possess importantadvantages in operation over devices as heretofore `used for the purpose. i p

ilo accomplish its purpose of protecting the switch point, the device ot our invention is designed to be positioned upon the innerv side of the track rail opposite to the point to be protected thereby and is arranged to be engaged by the inner surface of the car wheel flange and is formed to deflect the wheel laterally and in the direction of switching a distance sutlicient to fully clear the associated wheel of endwise 'engagement with the switch point at its reduced end portion. Particular and importantadvaiitages ot our improved Aform and arrangement of the switch point protector are; first, that upon loosening or accidental ydisplacement the arrangement and form of' the parts k'is such that they. will ybe displaced away from the flange-way, and second, that the. application of the Vdevice to the rail as indicated, in no way reduces, narrows .or obstructs the gauge Vot' the track structure; both of which important and particular advantages eliminate the danger factor present in many forms of devices heretofore proposed for the purpose.

The device of the prese-nt invention will be more fully understood lby reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein like reference characters are applied to the correspending parts in the several views.

ln the drawings: f

Fig. Vl is a plan view of a `railway switch structure of the split-switcli type, having our improved `protector installed to cooperate therewith.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a portion of the track rail with the improved protector secured in operating relation thereto.

F ig. 3 is vertical cross sectional view taken on line A--A F ig. 2 and F Lis a view of the protector' memberV in side elevation.

The improved protector device of our invention comprises a deilector member l, adapted as illustrated in Fig. l to besecured to the inner or fiangeway side of the inner tracl; rail 2 opposite to and in advanced relation to the switch point 3 to be protected. The switch structure, a'sillustrated, further includes the inner movable rail or switch point 4L, suitably connected by a cross `rodi to the protected point, the opposite main track ,'ail 6 and turnout rails Y and 8, the` latter beingcoiitinuous with the inner main rail 5 at the turnout. i .p

The switch point protector member of our invention as indicated `at l maybe preferably Ycast of manganese or highggrade alloy steel having a body portion provided at "its mid-section withv bolt apertures 9 to receive the securing bolt-s l() for securing the .protector member to the track rail 2. Upon its inner `and `upper longitudinal edge portion the protector member isprovided with an upwardly and longitudinally extending defiecting flange l2 having the inner surfaces of vits end portions .angularly contoured at l515 to beoutwardly laredwith relation to the track rail head and disposed inspaced relation theretoto be engaged Vby the .inner side suriaceof the car `wheel flange `for deflecting the latter' outwardly, or in the direction otswitching, sufficient to clear the associated wheeloll engagementwith the switch point at `its reduced Vend portion.v yAt its outer longitudinal edge portion the protector member is formed with a. shoulder 17 having bearing .engagement with the `underside or fishing surface-of the Lrail yhead and, intermediate of the flange. 17 and the deflect-ing flange l2, the body of the protector is longi-V tudinallyjgrooved or concave in cross section, thereby to provide ample clearance beneath the wheel flange with `proportionate lessen'- ing ofthe danger yfactor incident to `possible obstructioniof the flange-way.

Infurther accordance with our invention, the protector member is of similarformation above and `below a,k central horizontal plane dened by the axes of the bolt apertures from which `it results that the protector newal of the active surfaces when one of ioo thedeflect-ing flanges becomesworn. `In accordance therewith, the lower section ofthe protector `member is formed at yits inner lower edge portion with the deflectingflange 12 having its outwardly directed end surfaces flared at l and is formed at its outer edge portion with a longtudinallyextending shoulder 17 and hasthe intermediate portion between the shoulders longitudinally grooved corresponding to the uppei portion. 'lo allow of this reversible form and to provide proper bearing for the deflecting member, a cast steel bearing insert or spacing block 2O is interposed between the protector member and the track rail and is of a contour generally complemental to the contour of the surfaces of the protector member and track rail engaged thereby, thus providing a rigid support for the protector member. As indicated, the spacing member or block at its lower side has bearing support upon the rail base flange and its vertical web engaging portion is provided with apertures 19 to receive the securing' bolts 10. The latter are threaded, as shown, at their inner ends to receive the usual securing nuts 20 with lock washers 21 interposed between the nuts and the innerface of the protector member. In-

' terposed between the heads 2:2 of the bolts 10 and the track rail web, suitable lock washers 23 are interposed, having at their upper ends horizontal portions 24 closely overlying the bolt head to prevent turning thereof. As best shown in Fig. 4:, the end portions of the dellecting flanges may desirably be rounded otl to avoid objectionable sharp corners.

We have thus produced an improved switch point protecting device of simple and strong construction adapted successfully to withstand the severe stresses imposed thereon by the engagement of the car or locomotive wheel and which, in its operation, will deflect the wheel in the directon of switching a distance sufficient to clear the extreme end portion of the switch point, thereby relieving the latter ofthe initial shock and the application of switching pressures at the extreme point or reduced portion. The improved device is further of a design and arrangement possessing important safety factors in that upon loosening of the securing bolts, the allowable displacement is away from the flange-way and the device as installed avoids reducing or obstructing the gauge of the track structure. The flaring of the deflecting flange at each of its end portions provides for non-interference with the traffic in both drections and the device is, accordingly, particularly adapted for use in terminal land switching yards where it operates to effect substantial economy as related to the maintenance of switching strncturesin the protection of the relatively costly switch point parts. The reversible design provides for additional economy as related theretovand the employment of the associatedspacing blocks allows of readily accommodating the protector member to varied rail sections by employing spacing blocks conforming to the specific rail sections.

As will be understood, varied modifications of the several features of our improved itsupper portion formed with an upwardly and longitudinally extending delecting ilangehhaving its outwardly directed surface at its end portions inwardly flared and positioned to be engaged by the inner flange surface of a wheel for detlecting the associated wheel to clear the end portion of the switch point and having its lowerportion correspondingly formed to be reversible and means for securing the protector member in position.

2. A railway switch structure including the main rails and a movable switch point operatively associated with one of the main rails, of a protector member therefor positioned at the inner side of the other or oppositerail, said protector member having its upper portion formed with an upwardly and longitudinally extending deilecting flange having its outwardly directed surface at its end portions inwardly flared and positioned to be engaged by the inner flange surface of a wheel for dcflecting the associated wheel' to clear the end portion of the switch point and having its lower portion correspondingly formed so as to be reversible in position, a spacing member interposed between the protector member and the track rail providing bearing support for the protector and securing bolts fitted to apertures in the protector member and rail for clamping the former in position.

3. A railway switch structure including the main rails and a movable switch point operatively associated with one of the main rails, of a protector member therefor positioned at the inner side of the other or opposite rail, said protector member having its upper portion formed with an upwardl and longitudinally extending deflecting ange having its outwardly directed surface at its end portions inwardly flared and positioned to be engaged by theinner flange surface of a wheel for 'deflecting the associated wheel to clear the end portion of the switch point and with an outer shoulder engaging the underside of the track rail head and having a longitudinal tlangeway groove intermediate of the detlecting flange and said shoulder and said detlector member having its lower section correspondingly formed to be reversibly operative, a spacing member interposed `between the protector block and the track rail to provide bearing support for the protector, saidspaoing block having engagingl surfaces formed of oomplemental contour to the block and the rail section and means for securing the protector' and spacingl members to the rail.

4. A railway switch structure including the main rails and a movable switch point operatively associated with oneof the main rails, of a protector member therefor, positioned at the inner side oit' the other or opposite rail, said protector member having its upper portion formed with an upwardly and longitudinally extending detlecting Hange having its outwardly 'directed surface at its i end portions inwardly flared and positioned to beengaged by the inner flange surface of a wheel for deflecting the associated wheel to clear the end portion of the switch point and with an outer shoulder engaging the underside of the track rail head and having a longitudinal liange-way groove intermedr ate ot the deflecting flange and said shoulder, said securing means comprising` bolts fitted toapertures in the protector and spacing members and rail and a look washer element interposed between the bolt head and rail and provided with a portion overlying the former. Y

Signed at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey7 April A.`

JAMES CLARENCE PATTERSON. JAMES HENRY LYNCH, JR. 

